The Clinical Importance of Decreased Serum IL-38 and IL-41 Levels in Allergic Rhinitis

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between interleukin (IL)-38, IL-41, and allergic rhinitis (AR).

Forty outpatients with AR and 40 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Data such as the sex and age of the participants were collected. IgE levels were detected and 15 allergens were tested in patients with AR. Blood was collected from the participants and serum IL-38, IL-41, IL-17 and IgE levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Serum IL-38 and IL-41 levels in patients with AR were significantly lower than in HC (both P < .05), and serum levels of IL-17 and IgE in patients with AR were significantly higher than in HC (P < .0001 and P < .05). The levels of IL-38 and IL-41 levels in AR patients were significantly negatively correlated with IL-17 levels (r = -0.4813, P = .0017 and r = -0.4385, P = .0047, respectively); however, there was no significant correlation with IgE levels (r = -0.02976, P = .8554 and r = -0.1688, P = .2977, respectively). According to the analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve, the area under the curve (AUC) for IL-38 was 0.6544 (P = .0175), and the AUC for IL-38 and IL-41 combined with IL-17 were 0.7919 (P < .0001) and 0.7585 (P < .0001), respectively.

The decreased serum levels of IL-38 and IL-41 in outpatients with AR suggest that IL-38 and IL-41 may serve as potential indicators for the diagnosis of AR.